System Requirements for Online Testing
2015–2016
Overview
This document was developed by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and contains technology requirements to help Florida districts and schools prepare for online testing using AIR’s Test Delivery System (updates for the 2015— 16 school year are highlighted and included in the change log at the end of this document). In the 2015–16 school year, the following Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) will be delivered online using AIR’s systems:
• Grades 8–10 ELA Writing • Grades 4–10 ELA Reading • Grades 5–8 Mathematics
• Algebra 1 EOC • Geometry EOC • Algebra 2 EOC This document includes the following sections:
• Supported Operating Systems and Devices
• Supported Browsers for Online Systems
• Requirements for Peripheral Equipment
Supported Operating Systems and Devices
This section lists the system requirements for administering computer-based assessments.
Warning: Support for New Desktop Operating Systems
Operating systems that become available but do not appear in the following tables are not supported. Do not upgrade to new operating systems on computers that will be used to administer online assessments without ensuring the updates meet the required specifications.
Note: About the Minimum Requirements for Current Computers
AIR’s secure browser for desktops is based on the open-source Mozilla Firefox web browser. The current requirements align with the minimum recommendations for running Mozilla Firefox on supported operating systems (Mozilla System Requirements).
The recommended specifications are AIR’s guidelines for optimal performance. If your district or school is contemplating purchasing new computers, we suggest that you consider the
recommended specifications. These specifications will ensure that your computers work effectively with the online testing system and provide additional functionality and longevity.
Desktops, Laptops, and Netbooks
Computers used for testing must meet the specifications for each supported operating system as shown in the table below. To ensure optimal student experiences for online testing, any computer that takes a noticeably long time (for example, 10 seconds or more) to start and run applications should be avoided for use with online testing.
Supported Operating Systems
Requirements for Current Computers
Recommended
Specifications for Future Purchases
Windows* 7, 8.0, 8.1
1 GHz or faster processor 1 GB RAM or greater memory
Pentium 4 GHz processor 2 GB RAM 80 GB hard drive Mac OS X (Intel)* 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10 1 GHz or faster processor 1 GB RAM or greater memory
Pentium 4 GHz processor 2 GB RAM 80 GB hard drive Linux Fedora 20, 21 openSUSE 13.1
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5
Ubuntu 12.04, 14.04 (LTS)
Intel x86 processor 512 MB of RAM
200 MB hard drive space Required Libraries/Packages: • GTK+ 2.18 or higher • GLib 2.22 or higher • Pango 1.14 or higher • X.Org 1.0 or higher (1.7+ recommended) • libstdc++ 4.3 or higher • libreadline6:i386 (Ubuntu only) • GNOME 2.16 or higher
Pentium 4 or newer processor 2 GB RAM
80 GB hard drive Recommended Libraries/ Packages:
In addition to the required libraries listed under minimum requirements, the following should be installed: • NetworkManager 0.7 or
higher
• DBus 1.0 or higher • HAL 0.5.8 or higher
*AIR expects to support Windows 10 and Mac OS X 10.11 in 2016; however, schools should not update operating systems until they have been confirmed as being supported by AIR and FDOE.
Tablets
While the specifications for computers, laptops, and netbooks are more general, only supported tablets running a supported operating system are permitted. These supported tablets have been tested for use with AIR’s Test Delivery System and may be used for student testing.
Supported
Operating Systems
Supported Tablets Related Requirements
iOS (iPads) 7.0, 7.1 8.0–8.2
iPad 2
Third generation
Fourth generation (Retina Display)
iPad Air iPad Air 2
Guided Access must be enabled. For more information, refer to the
Technical Specifications Manual.
Android
4.3, 4.4, 5.0, 5.1
Google Nexus 10 Motorola Xoom
Samsung Galaxy Note 2014 Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, 4 LearnPad Quarto
The secure browser keyboard must be enabled after installing the mobile secure browser.
For more information, refer to the
Secure Browser Installation Manual.
Windows 8.0, 8.1
AIR supports any tablet running Windows 8.0 and 8.1 Pro but has done extensive testing only on Surface Pro, Surface Pro 3, Asus Transformer, and Dell Venue.
N/A
Chromebooks
All Chromebooks running a supported Chrome OS may be used for student testing.
About Chrome OS and Automatic Updates
AIR recommends turning off or delaying automatic updates of the Chrome operating system. Doing so will allow AIR to review changes from Google and address any updates that pose a potential risk to student testing. The recommended period for delaying automatic updates is two weeks.
Automatic update settings are configured in Google’s admin console. Supported
Operating Systems
Supported Devices Related Requirements
Chrome OS 41–44
All Chromebooks Kiosk mode must be enabled. For more information, refer to the
Thin Clients: NComputing for Windows
The following table lists the supported hardware and software for NComputing solutions.
Supported Server Host Supported Server Software Supported Terminals
Windows 2008 R2 vSpace Server 8 L300
Supported Browsers for Online Systems
This section lists the supported web browsers for 2015–2016. It also provides information regarding AIR’s secure browsers for student testing.
Supported Web Browsers by Operating System
The table below lists the supported operating systems and corresponding web browsers for each AIR application. AIR recommends using recent versions of supported web browsers. Each application requires disabling pop-up blocking software and enabling JavaScript. Be sure to use the correct combination of operating system and web browser. For example, Windows 8.1 requires Internet Explorer 11.
Supported Operating Systems Supported Devices Supported Browsers TA Sites Student Training Test TIDE ORS Windows 7 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Internet Explorer 10–11 8.0 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Internet Explorer 10–11 8.0 Pro, 8.0 RT Surface Pro*
Surface Pro 3* Asus
Transformer* Dell Venue*
Supported Operating Systems Supported Devices Supported Browsers TA Sites Student Training Test TIDE ORS Windows 8.1 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Internet Explorer 11 Mac OS X 10.7 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Safari 5–6 10.8 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Safari 6 10.9 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Safari 7 10.10 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Safari 8 Linux Fedora 20–21 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 openSUSE 13.1 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Red Hat Enterprise 6.5 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 Ubuntu (LTS) 12.04, 14.04 Desktops, laptops Chrome 41–44 Firefox 10–36 iOS
Supported Operating Systems Supported Devices Supported Browsers TA Sites Student Training Test TIDE ORS
8.0–8.2 Supported iPads Safari 8
Android 4.3, 4.4, 5.0, 5.1 Supported tablets Chrome 41–44 Chrome OS 41–44 Chromebooks Chrome 41–44
* AIR supports any tablet running Windows 8.0 and 8.1 Pro but has done extensive testing only on Surface Pro, Surface Pro 3, Asus Transformer, and Dell Venue.
Delaying Firefox Updates
AIR conducts quality assurance on the most recent Firefox versions for each system except the student testing site (which requires the secure browser). AIR recommends you delay
installation of new versions of Firefox, which could impact system performance. Postponing updates allows AIR time to review changes and verify that each system works correctly with the new version.
To learn how to disable automatic updates for Firefox, see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-response-turning-auto-update. You may need to disable automatic updates again after installing a newer version of Firefox.
Secure Browsers for Online Testing
The secure browser must be downloaded and installed on all computers that will be used for student testing. All secure browsers can be downloaded from the FSA Portal
(www.FSAssessments.org).
Supported Operating Systems Supported Devices Supported Secure Browser Windows 7, 8.0, 8.1 Desktops/Laptops/Netbooks 8.0 Mac OS X (Intel) 10.7–10.10 Desktops/Laptops 8.0
Supported Operating Systems Supported Devices Supported Secure Browser Linux
Fedora 20–21 openSUSE 13.1 Red Hat Enterprise 6.5 Ubuntu 12.04, 14.04 (LTS) Desktops/Laptops/Netbooks 8.0 iOS (iPads) 7.0, 7.1 8.0–8.2 iPad 2 Third generation
Fourth generation (Retina Display) iPad Air iPad Air 2 AIRSecureTest Mobile Secure Browser Android 4.3, 4.4, 5.0, 5.1 Google Nexus 10 Motorola Xoom
Samsung Galaxy Note (2014) Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, 4 LearnPad Quarto AIRSecureTest Mobile Secure Browser Chrome OS 41–44 Chromebooks AIRSecureTest kiosk application
Requirements for Peripheral Equipment
Monitors and Screen Display Requirements
All supported computers, laptops, netbooks, and tablets must meet the following requirements.
Screen Dimensions
Screen dimensions must be 10" or larger (with the exception of iPads with a 9.5" display, which are included). This means the following devices are not supported:
• Apple iPad Mini
• Google Nexus 7 and similar-sized Android tablets • Netbooks with screen dimensions smaller than 10"
Screen Resolution
All devices must meet the following minimum resolution. Larger resolutions can be applied as appropriate for the monitor or screen being used.
• Desktops, laptops, and tablets: 1024 × 768 • Netbooks: 1024 × 600
Depending on the screen size, students may need to use vertical or horizontal scroll bars to view all test-related information. Students may also use the Zoom tool in the online test to enlarge the content on the screen.
Headphones
Students may need headphones to listen to audio in online assessments.
• Students with the text-to-speech feature can listen to stimuli or test items being read aloud. • All computer-based ELA Reading assessments require headphones for listening items. School Assessment Coordinators should determine how many students will need headphones prior to testing to ensure that there is an adequate supply on hand.
The following headphones are supported:
• Wired headphones with a 3.5 mm connector.
• USB headphones with a wired or wireless connection.
• The following Bluetooth headphones: Logitech H800, SoundBot SB270, and ECO Sound ECO-V300.
Wired headphones with a 3.5 mm connector or USB headphones (wired or wireless) are recommended over Bluetooth, as they provide better clarity and accuracy.
Mice
Mice on mobile devices are not supported. Wireless or wired mice on desktops and laptops that are compatible with the operating system are supported.
Keyboards
External keyboards are strongly recommended for tablets used for testing. Students may use mechanical, manual, or Bluetooth-based keyboards. Some external keyboards have additional “shortcut” buttons that can create security issues. These buttons may allow students to open another application or the tablet’s default on-screen keyboard. AIR strongly cautions against using keyboards that have these shortcut buttons.
Keyboards with the Android Operating System
The Android mobile secure browser requires the secure browser keyboard to disable predictive text. Therefore, any external keyboard that has a shortcut button to open the tablet’s default keyboard is not permitted as this default keyboard will override the mobile secure browser keyboard.
AIR has determined that the EZOWare Slim Full Size Keyboard contains a shortcut button that opens the default keyboard and should NOT be used with Android tablets.
Change Log
Location Change Date
Desktops, Laptops, and Netbooks Supported devices, OS, and
requirements updated
8/13/15
Tablets & Chromebooks Supported OS and devices updated
Supported Browsers for Online
Systems Browsers updated
Screen Dimensions Non-supported screens added
Delaying Firefox Updates New section
